Chapter 4

"Ethan, it's not my place to say, but you and Lucy have been together for so long."

"Now you're not going home just because of an argument—isn't that inappropriate?"

My supervisor held the form, saying in a tone that brooked no refusal: "Lucy was so anxious she came to the station to file a report. Here's what we'll do—I'm authorizing you to go take new wedding photos with her."

When I arrived at the photography studio, Lucy had been waiting for me for a while.

"Ethan, listen to me. That day was all a misunderstanding. Those marks were from Ryan giving me therapy."

As soon as she saw me, she couldn't wait to explain.

I just nodded faintly, not even looking at her.

Like a puppet on strings, I did whatever the photographer told me to do.

Finally, the photographer couldn't help it and poked his head out: "The groom needs to lean closer to the bride. You're taking your seventh-anniversary photos—why are you still so stiff?"

When Lucy and I took our first wedding photos, we only had eyes for each other.

But now, everything had changed.

During the break, Lucy secretly slipped me a box: "Ethan, open it and look."

I didn't need to open it to know—this was a watch I'd once said I liked.

At the time, Lucy always made excuses about not having time to buy it for me. Eventually, I saw it on Ryan's wrist.

Now she was finally giving it to me, but I no longer liked it.

I looked away: "Lucy, after we finish shooting, let's go get divorced."

My tone was flat, but Lucy exploded.

"Ethan, when will you stop?! I even bought you your favorite watch and you're still talking about divorce!"

So she knew I loved this model.

Before I could respond, an emergency call from the station came through.

"Chemical plant explosion. Emergency assistance needed!"

I immediately stopped worrying about Lucy and prepared to leave.

Just as I was about to rush out the door, Lucy suddenly grabbed my hand.

Her grip tightened. For once, she seemed reluctant to let me go.

Seeing my impatient frown, her grip loosened.

But in the end, she held on tight: "Ethan, come back safe."

Come back safe.

This was what Lucy used to say to me every time I went on a mission.

But it had been so long since she'd said it to me.

Hearing it suddenly, I felt momentarily dazed.

But quickly, I adjusted my mindset and prepared to depart.

[Chemical plant about to explode! Will the dangerous rescue succeed?!]

The headlines on her phone grew bigger and bigger, gripping Lucy's heart tightly.

Her eyes looked somewhat vacant. She suddenly felt that letting Ethan go this time was the wrong decision.

Even Ryan's call seemed insignificant at this moment, but eventually she still answered.

"Lucy, if Ethan disappeared, would you come love me?"

Ryan was breathing heavily on the other end, as if he'd just been running.

Lucy didn't catch on immediately: "What?"

Ryan repeated: "I said, if Ethan dies, can you marry me?"

"I just set fire to the chemical plant. Ethan will definitely go rescue people, so then..."

A thunderous boom sounded in the distance. Thick black smoke billowed upward.

The blood-red light on the horizon was like an extremely dangerous signal, shining into her eyes and gripping her heart hard.

She suddenly let out a terrible scream, tears quickly flooding her eyes: "Ethan!"